What Helps You Learn To Read And Play The Musical Note

When you learn an instrument you are taught (either from a teacher or yourself) to read and play musical notes. It is important to know what a note actually is in order to learn and read them.

What Is A Note?

A note is a sign in music to tell a musician how long to play a sound for and which sound

to play on their instrument.

Note Lengths:

As a beginner you learn the 1, 2, 4, 3  count note lengths first and then branch out to other 

note lengths.

They look like this:

     1 count                    2 counts               4 counts               3 counts

Note Names:

Notes are given names to tell the musician to what pitch to play. The musician will learn how

to play or find this pitch on their particular instrument. The notes are given names from the 

first 7 letters of the alphabet, A B C D E F G.  We call this the Musical Alphabet. And 

then they are written on a set of 5 lines called a stave.

Pianists have 2 staves joined together by a long line, because they play notes with their right 

and left hand at same time.

The position of the note on the stave tells the musician exactly which pitch of sound to play.

For example.

             A                          C                       C                          A

Now we have the background on The Note let’s have a look at what helps you learn 

to read and play these musical notes.

1. You learn note lengths and note pitch names slowly in a step by step fashion. When
    you are presented with a new note or note length you will have exercise(s) and pieces to
    play around this.

    Look Here at How To Catch A Musical Note and Keep It Correct

2. Follow the sayings for line notes and space notes

3. Playing games and more can help in your memory of learning and playing these Musical

Notes. 

Discover Ten Fabulous Ways To Have Fun With Your Musical Notes Here

One fabulous way to learn your musical notes is to play Dominoes Musical Style. 

Below is an example of Note Length Dominoes. This is fun to play is a small group.

So all you need to do is follow the guideline of your teacher or if you are learning yourself 

follow the tutor book, CD, DVD if the books come with them, and the above ideas to help 

in your learning and remembering.

If you are a piano player looking for more direction to helping you learn to read and 

play the musical notes then Look Here.  

Enjoy your adventure to reading and playing your favourite tunes 

Introduction To Learning The Piano and Keyboard

You have decided that you want to learn and play the piano and you are a complete beginner. 

Where do you start?

If you are learning an instrument then you need to have that instrument to play.If you have not got a piano or keyboard perched in a room somewhere, then you need to get one

There are two broad options to choose from, the electronic piano/keyboard or 

upright/grand piano. Keyboards are cheaper, smaller and portable. But there is 

nothing like the rich, solid sound of the piano to whip out tunes from the Great 

Composers and beyond. Go to your local music shop to view and get advice. If you 

know exactly what you want however you can take a look Here.

So you now have a piano or keyboard. Great!!

If you have a piano, is it in tune?

Your piano needs to be tuned every time its been shifted or at regular intervals. You 

will need to find a piano tuner in your area. Maybe someone at the music store can 

direct you to a reliable one.

If you have a keyboard, you will need to understand how it works by reading 

the manual. Different brands of keyboards have different features and may be 

set out differently. Even different types within the same brand can have variable 

features.

Now…how do you play it?

Great question. There are three options:

1. Find a Piano Teacher:

     You can go along to a weekly lesson for guidance.

     It is useful to have someone to see and hear what are learning. A teacher can tell 

     you what you are doing well and what needs working on and give extra material to 

     help as required.

     There will be variances on fees and payment.

2. Learn On Your Own:

a. You can buy a tutor book, CD, DVD and learn yourself. 

This is a cheaper option than lessons with a teacher and comes with a one off fee.

 You can learn at your own rate and it is convenient not to go out to a weekly lesson.

However it has it's disadvantages in that you do not get feedback and you may get 

some bad habits and get confused.  

b. With an Online Piano Course:

This is another option to be able to go at your pace. They generally have a one-time fee. 

And as well as getting books, audio, video there is a online support service which is 

used to answer any questions you may have. Take a look Here.

When you are learning the piano by any of the methods you need to learn step 

by step. Every instruction is vital to get a complete knowledge. So do not skip any 

lessons. Of course if you are learning from a teacher then it is harder to skip lessons 

and it helps keep up the interest.

When you start learning the piano you learn sitting posture, hand and finger 

position, finger numbers, note names, note lengths, the keys of the keyboard, musical 

terminology and more…all step by step, from the simple pieces to the more complex 

pieces as you move onto more notes and rhythms.

It is your job to get familiar with all of this so you can play your favourite pieces for 

sheer pleasure and total relaxation.

And so you need to be guided into good practise techniques. You know, the idea to

learn the piano is to play and have fun. So in your learning journey take note of all the 

pieces you like. And every time you go to the piano you can pull out a piece or 2 for 

a warm up or warm down. And do your focused practise bit in the middle.

Take a Look Here for Practising Techniques For A Musical Instrument.

The amount time you play each practice session depends on your level of playing.

My Motto Is

Play Little Amounts Often

On Different Days Of Week

Repetition is the Key

Rather than one larger playing just before each weekly lesson

So what are you waiting for?

Contact a teacher for lessons.

Buy a tutor book,CD,DVD  or

Purchase an Online Piano Course Here

And enjoy your amazing journey into the Art of Piano Playing

Learning The Piano Notes

• 

Are You Familiar With The Song Auld Lang Syne?

Great. Then you will be able to learn to play this song and more on the piano easily and 
quickly. And this is simply done by learning the piano notes.

So what are the piano notes?

These are the black and white keys you see spanning right across from left to right. You 
will see groups of 3 black keys and groups of 2 black keys. These repeat alternatively 
as seen in the picture above.

Now the song Auld Lang Syne can be played on the black keys alone. Take a look.

NB I played this with one hand because I was filming using the other hand. But you can play
it easier to play with both hands.

On your first lesson at learning the piano, you find out that you give your fingers numbers 
from 1 to 5 giving number one to the thumb.

Finger Number Saying

I'm the thumb. I'm number 1

How do you do, says number 2

Look at me, I'm number 3

Knock on the door, says number 4

I'm alive, says number 5

This is important to know because in piano sheet music you can put a finger number beside
a note so you play that note each time using this finger and this makes the piece easier to
play with the best finger progression.

When you play Auld Lang Syne on the black notes, each black key is given a finger 
number. Here are the finger numbers using two hands. If you don't know the piece you 
need to listen to it in order to catch the rhythm. Have a listen to the video above.

5 3 33 1 2 32 123 3 1 23hold     32  11 3 2 32 12 3 44 5 3hold

32 11 3 2 32 3 2 11 2 3hold       5 2 11 3 2 32 12 3 4 4 5 3hold

blue = left hand group of 2 black keys

blue = left hand group of 3 black keys

red = right hand group of 2 black keys

red = right hand group of 3 black keys

Then there are the white keys.

This is when we start to name the keys. In music, notes are named from the first seven 
letters of the musical alphabet, namely A B C D E F G. So we name the white keys as 
such. And because there are only 7 letters, they repeat across the piano from left to right. 
Each letter is given to a key in relation to the black keys. You generally learn C first 
when you learn the piano. All C’s are the white key directly to the left of the group of black 
keys.

All F’s are the white key directly to the left of the group of black keys.

Can you find F in the picture above?

And so on.

Some say that learning the piano notes are difficult. But if you learn them slowly, one key at 

a time, in a step by step order, using exercises and pieces as a vehicle in order to play the 

pieces you love to hear then you will succeed. Follow your heart and inner desire.

You may be learning the piano with a piano teacher or by yourself with the aid of a 

tutor book/DVD/CD. 

You will be guided at your pace whichever method you choose. But you need to have your 
own piano to do so. You need to touch the keys, make the sounds and enjoy your step by 
step progression to the pieces you like. So if you have not got a piano you should start 
shopping for one.

Will it be a cheaper keyboard?

Will it be a more expensive upright piano”

Will it be a mini grande?

There are many options, and your local music retailer can guide you.

Now you can use the technique of visualization to help in your learning of the piano notes.

Just imagine a piano and the keys on it.

If it helps, shut your eyes.

Visualise the note(s) or key(s) you have just learnt.

Finger the song you have just learnt in the air or table.

See yourself doing this.

This can be done anywhere away from or at the piano.

When you are learning the piano notes, you get to learn scales and chords from the most
simple ones like C and G  and F major to the more difficult ones like D flat major or F# 
minor. And this will lead from simpler pieces to more advanced pieces.

So you see, learning each piano note is not a game. It can be difficult task especially
for those who have memorization problems. Try to create a piano picture inside your mind
and visualize the note of each key. Do this everyday for a couple of minutes. Don't stop
until you have memorized the last key and note you have learnt. Retain the piano picture 
inside your mind because this will be of very good use to you in the future. 

However just visualizing the keys is not fun. You need to feel the keys, hear the sounds
and enjoy the amazing journey you are on.

Remember to reap the rewards of every little milestone and your fingers will be moving up 
and down those keys in no time.

If you have been learning on your own and would like a little extra help then This could help.